Paper towel holder



March 8, 1966 c. A. CASTELLANO 3,239,156

PAPER TOWEL HOLDER Filed May 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N INVENTOR CARMIN CASTELLANO Q BY L: Z M+M H IS AT TORN EYS C. A. CASTELLANO March 8 1966 PAPER TOWEL HOLDER 2 Sheet's-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1963 INVENTOR CARM N CASTELLANO BY WZZQIMTM HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,239,156 PAPER TOWEL HOLDER Carrnin A. Castellano, Clarks Summit, Pa., assignor to Consolidated Molded Products Corporation, Scranton, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 16, 1963, Ser. No. 280,844 4 Claims. (Cl. 24255.2)

This invention relates to holders for dispensing rolled articles and, in particular, to an improved form of holder for dispensing rolled paper towels and the like.

In accordance with the present invention a simple, inexpensive roll holder is provided which includes a back bar and roll-supporting arms connected to the back bar by means of an easily assembled hinge joint enabling the arms to be folded against the back bar and unfolded to an erected position to receive between them, and resiliently engage, the ends of a roll of towels or the like.

More particularly, the back bar has a slot in each of its two longitudinal extremities for slidably and rockably receiving a downwardly and laterally projecting tongue or tongues formed on the inner face of each end bar. One or more detents, formed on the extremity of the laterally projecting portion of each of the tongues, to make the tongues of slightly greater extent in one dimension than the accommodating slot, retains each tongue in the slot with capacity for sliding movement to enable the end bars to be moved to a folded position longitudinally overlying the back bar and unfolded to an erect position, generally perpendicular to the respective longitudinal eX- tremities of the back bar. A flange on each of the end bars engages an individually mating shoulder on the back bar when the corresponding end bar is in the erect position. The flanges and shoulders thereby act as stops limiting the rocking movement of the end bars.

The elements of the roll holder can be formed of plastic by means of injection molding. Inasmuch as the end bars are essentially identical, only two molds are required for producing all of the elements of the roll holder. By virtue of the novel hinge joint provided between the end bars and the back bar, the roll holder can be assembled easily without tool-s and the end bars can be folded and unfolded without danger of detachment from the back bar. Moreover, the arrangement of the arms and hinge joints are such that they can be sprung to enable a roll to be inserted between them and will resiliently engage and retain the roll during use.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view in broken section of roll holder embodying the invention, with the end bars folded;

FIGURE 2 is a back view of the roll holder shown in FIGURE 1, with the end bars generally perpendicular to the back bar;

FIGURE 3 is a back view of a portion of a modified form of roll holder embodying the invention with the end bar in folded relationship;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3 with the end bar erected;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view in section of a small removed portion of another modified embodiment of the applicants invention drawn to a larger scale than the other figures of the drawings; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view in partial section of the modified embodiment of the holder shown in removed portion in FIGURE 6, with one end bar erected and the other end bar in folded relation.

One embodiment of the rolled article holder has a 3,239,156 Patented Mar. 8, 1966 longitudinally arcuate back bar 10, shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 7, which may be formed of plastic by injection molding or the like. Transverse slots 11 and 12, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, are formed in each of the longitudinal extremities of the back bar 10. Apertures 13 and 14, formed in a central portion 15 of the back bar 10 receive fastening means, such as screws (not shown) for attaching the back bar to a wall or the like. Recessed shoulders 16 and 17 are formed in the periphery of the longitudinal extremities of the back bar 10.

Identical hollow end bars or arms 18 and 19, which may both be formed of plastic by means of injection molding from the same mold, have means for attaching rolled paper towels and the like, such as the truncated hollow cylinders and 21 on the ends of the opposing, inwardly disposed surfaces of the end bars 18 and 19. Projecting tongue means 22 and 23, formed on the end bars 18 and 19 on the edge opposite from the hollow cylinders 20 and 21 each have inwardly disposed laterally projecting elements 24 and 25, respectively. Detents 28 and 29 are formed on the transverse extremities of the laterally projecting elements 24 and with a slope which progressively decreases the size of the detents as the edges of the laterally projecting elements 24 and 25 are approached. Projecting skirts or flanges 26 and 27 are formed on the outwardly disposed sides of the end bars 18 and 19 adjacent the tongue means 22 and 23 respectively.

The arms 18 and 19 are attached to the back bar 10 by pressing the laterally projecting elements 24 and 25 of the tongue means 22 and 23, downwardly and through the respective slots 11 and 12. The detents 28 and 29 on the transverse extremities of the laterally projecting elements 24 and 25 extend the tongue mean-s in one dimension beyond the corresponding dimension of the respective transverse slot, while the wedge shape of the detents 28 and 29 facilitates snapping the tongue means through the slots. Thus the detents 28 and 29 function much like barbed fish-hooks, easily penetrating the slots 11 and 12, but blocking removal therefrom.

The tongue and detent is inserted for permanent, hinged retention in the back bar slots quickly, without the use of tools or machinery, permitting the end bars to rock freely from a position folded against the back bar to an unfolded, erected position without risk of detachment from the back bar. The tongue means 22 and 23 are slidingly received within the slots 11 and 12 to hingedly cooperate with the end bars 18 and 19 thus facilitating the rocking motion.

The skirts or flanges 26 and 27, projecting from the outwardly disposed sides of the end bars 18 and 19 adjacent the tongue means 22 and 23, seat in the recessed shoulders 16 and 17, formed in the back bar 10, when the end bars are rocked to the erect position as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Thus the interrelationship between the flanges 26 and 27 and the shoulders 16 and 17 braces the erected end bars in a position generally perpendicular to the respective end portions of the back bar 10. The generally arcuate longitudinal shape of the back bar 10, illustrated in FIGURE 4, causes the end portions of the back bar to depend away from the surface to which the holder is attached. Consequently, the erected end bars 18 and 19 extend forwardly forming an acute angle with each other and with the central portion 15 of the back bar 10. The end bars 18 and 19 are thus sprung to resiliently engage a roll inserted between them for secure retention during use.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a rear view of which is shown in FIGURE 3 with the end bar 19 folded, and a section view of which is shown in FIGURE 5 with the end bar erect, has the projecting tongue means 23 and the laterally projecting element 25 slidably received in the transverse slot 11. A tapered detent 30, centrally disposed on the side of the laterally projecting element adjacent the back bar 10, and a recess 31, formed in the periphery of the slot 11 to accommodate the detent when the end bar 19 is rocked into the position folded against the back bar 10, shown in FIGURE 3, facilitates attaching the end bar to the back bar and the sliding retention of the end bar on the back bar 10 in the manner hereinbefore described.

A third embodiment of the applicants invention, shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 provides for the tongue means 23, formed on the end bar 19, to be slidably received in the transverse slot 11 on the back bar 10. The detent 30, which in this embodiment of the invention may extend along the entire transverse length of the laterally projecting tongue element 25, is of slightly greater width than the slot 11. The detent 30 may, for example, be only two-thousandths of an inch .002) greater in width than the slot 12 to permit the tongue on the end bar to be snapped through the slot, permanently securing the g end bar in slidable relation with the back bar 10 in the housing recess 31 in the manner hereinbefore described. The flange 27 is seated on the shoulder 17 formed on the longitudinal extremity of the back bar when the end bar 19 is extended, while a protruding boss 32, formed by the recessed shoulder 17 fits in snug engagement within a recessed portion 33 of the end bar 18.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the present invention provides a holder for supporting rolled articles, such as paper towels and the like which is sturdy, inexpensive and easily assembled.

While representative embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described for purposes of illustration, various changes and modifications can be made therein as pointed out above without departing from the principles of this invention. Therefore, all such changes and modifications are included within the intended scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A holder, comprising a back bar, lateral end portions on the back bar, the lateral end portions each having at least one transverse slot therein, a plurality of end bars, at least one downwardly and laterally projecting tongue means on each of the end bars cooperating with the respective transverse slot and slidably received therein for rocking movement of the end bar from an erect to a folded position, detent means protruding from the laterally projecting portion of each of the tongue means and spaced from the respective end bar to render one dimension of the tongue means greater than the corresponding dimension of the cooperating slot to lock the tongue means within the slot, a recessed shoulder formed in the periphery of each of the lateral end portions of the back bar, and flange means on the end bars adjacent the tongue means cooperatively seated on the recessed shoulder when the end bars are rocked to an erect position.

2. A holder, comprising a back bar, lateral end portions on the back bar, the lateral end portions each having at least one transverse slot therein, a plurality of end bars, at least one downwardly and laterally projecting tongue means on each of the end bars slidably movable within the transverse slot for rocking connection of the end bars with the back bar, a transverse edge terminating the laterally projecting portion of the tongue means of each of said end bars and spaced from the respective end bar, detent means formed medially on the transverse edge rendering one dimension of the tongue means greater than the corresponding dimension of the cooperating slot to lock the slidable tongue means within the slot, recess means formed in the periphery of each of said transverse slots for receiving the detent means when the respective end bar is rocked into folded relation to generally overlie the back bar, a shoulder formed in the periphery of each of the lateral end portions of the back bar, and flange means on the end bars adjacent the tongue means cooperatively seated in the recessed shoulder when the end bars are rocked to an erect position.

3. A holder, comprising a back bar, lateral end portions on the back bar each having at least one transverse slot therein, a plurality of end bars, at least one downwardly and laterally projecting tongue means on each of the end bars cooperatively received within one of the transverse slots and slidably movable therein for rocking movement of said end bar from an erect position to a folded position relative to the back bar, a transverse edge terminating the laterally projecting portion of each of the tongue means and spaced from the respective end bar, detent means formed on at least one of the transverse extremities of said edge and rendering at least one dimension of the tongue means greater than the corresponding slot dimension to lock the slidable tongue means within the slot, recessed shoulders formed in the periphery of the lateral end portions of the back bar, and flange means on the end bars adjacent the tongue means cooperatively seated in the recessed shoulder when the end bars are rocked to an erect position.

4. A holder, comprising a back bar, lateral end portions on the back bar each having at least one transverse slot therein, a plurality of end bars, at least one downwardly and laterally projecting tongue means on each of the end bars cooperatively received within one of the transverse slots and slidably movable therein for rocking movement of said end bar from an erect position to a folded position relative to the back bar, a transverse edge terminating the laterally projecting portion of each of the tongue means and spaced from the respective end bar, detent means formed on the transverse edge extending substantially the entire length of said edge to render at least one dimension of the tongue means greater than the corresponding slot dimension to lock the slidable tongue means within the slot, a recess formed in the back bar adjacent to each of said slots to accommodate the respective laterally projecting portion of said tongue means and said detent means in nested relation therewithin when each of said end bars are rocked into the erect position, a boss on each of said laterally end portions spaced outwardly from the respective slot, and flange means on each of said end bars adjacent to the tongue means for rockably engaging over the respective bosses when said end bar is rocked into an erect position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,164,064 6/1939 Harvey 24255.2 3,116,030 12/1963 Leotta 24255.2

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

3. A HOLDER, COMPRISING A BACK BAR, LATERAL END PORTIONS ON THE BACK BAR EACH HAVING AT LEAST ONE TRANSVERSE SLOT THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF END BARS, AT LEAST ONE DOWNWARDLY AND LATERALLY PROJECTING TONGUE MEANS ON EACH OF THE ENDS COOPERATIVELY RECEIVED WITHIN ONE OF THE TRANSVERSE SLOTS AND SLIDABLY MOVABLE THEREIN FOR ROCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID END BAR FROM AN ERECT POSITION TO A FOLDED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE BACK BAR, A TRANSVERSE EDGE TERMINATING THE LATERALLY PROJECTING PORTION OF EACH OF THE TONGUE MEANS AND SPACED FROM THE RESPECTIVE END BAR, DETENT MEANS FORMED ON AT LEAST ONE OF THE TRANSVERSE EXTREMITIES OF SAID EDGE AND RENDERING AT LEAST ONE DIMENSION OF THE TONGUE MEANS GREATER THAN THE CORRESPONDING SLOT DIMENSION TO LOCK THE SLIDABLE TONGUE MEANS WITHIN THE SLOT, RECESSED SHOULDERS FORMED IN THE PERIPHERY OF THE LATERAL END PORTIONS OF THE BACK BAR, AND FLANGE MEANS ON THE END BARS ADJACENT THE TONGUE MEANS COOPERATIVELY SEATED IN THE RECESSED SHOULDER WHEN THE END BARS ARE ROCKED TO AN ERECT POSITION. 